Mini Chef Set - Montessori Mates
The Mini Chef Set is a must-have for any Montessori classroom or Montessori inspired home! It contains all the fundamental and fully functional tools that a child needs to be empowered in the kitchen. Help foster your little one's love of food and cooking with this 8 piece set featuring:
- Ladle
- Spatula
- Rolling pin
- Tongs
- Mixing spoon
- Pastry Brush
- Whisk
- Carry case for convenience and orderly storage!
Made specially for small hands with an ergonomic design, the Mini Chef Set encourages your child to get hands-on in the kitchen. They are not toys, but real tools, that will aid your child's independence and fine motor skills as they learn to mix, whisk, transfer and more.
The tools are made from food-grade silicone and they are designed with safety and durability in mind. This set will last through countless meals!
Beautifully presented in a case that is perfect for convenient and organised storage, the Mini Chef Set makes an ideal gift for a child's birthday, Christmas or other special occasions.
In a classroom setting, the cohesive style of the set makes it ideal for collaborative cooking experience. Where several age groups or classrooms each need their own set, investing in a different colour for each area ensures that the full set will always be returned to the right place!
The utensils can be used as a set in the kitchen, or individually for a range of different practical life exercises. Read on for a little inspiration!
Whisk:
In my own Montessori classroom we do use whisks for baking, but they are more commonly selected by children who want to "make bubbles"! This is an exercise that is used in our classroom for practical purposes - we use the bubble mixture to help wash some of the classroom materials - but the children also enjoy performing it as an exercise even if they don't start out with a specific plan about what to wash!
Tongs:
In activity 'trays' tongs are often used for transferring exercises. This is largely because of the noticeable use of the 'pincer' grip in manipulating the tongs. The use of tongs help to encourage and inspire a strong, dexterous pincer grip in a way that is 'incidental' - that is, the child is not consciously aware that it is a pre-writing exercise as this purpose is hidden within an enjoyable and non-threatening activity.
Rolling Pin:
It requires a surprising amount of dexterity and control for a child to effectively use a rolling pin. It is quite an engaging challenge to learn to place the correct amount of pressure to flatten the dough without making it wrap around the rolling pin. The rolling pin can be presented alongside playdough or soft clay to help children master this skill while also exercising their creativity!